​Europe is not prepared for the catastrophic climate scenarios that portend ● Piercing may have appeared in prehistory as an initiation ritual ● The situation with the Antarctic ice cap is becoming alarming

Europe is not prepared for the catastrophic climate scenarios that are coming

Europe could suffer the “catastrophic” consequences of climate change if urgent action is not taken, the European Environment Agency (EEA) has warned.

Areas in the south of the continent are the most vulnerable, and the main dangers are forest fires, water scarcity and its consequences for agriculture, soil erosion and salt water intrusion into groundwater.

Many of these risks have already reached a critical level and can have devastating consequences in the absence of preventive measures. This does not mean that Northern or Central Europe will be spared from the negative effects of rising temperatures.

Experts predict extreme droughts, fires and floods in coastal areas, which are already visible phenomena. And such scenarios will become the new norm, experts of the European Environment Agency say. From the point of view of the state of southern ecosystems, agriculture, infrastructure and health care, the situation is already critical.

But such problems will be felt as soon as possible in the center and in the north of the continent, with consequences that will arise in economic terms. In total, from the list of 36 potential risks, 21 of them require immediate action, and 8 are already considered urgent.

EEA members believe that both governments and the European population must be aware of the main dangers that are knocking at the door. But they realize that, at least for now, despite progress, things are moving more slowly than needed, mainly because of economic competition and insufficient funds.

Piercing appeared in prehistory as a ritual of initiation

More than 100 pieces of jewelry used as piercings have been unearthed in an 11,000-year-old necropolis in Bonkuklu Tarla, southeastern Anatolia, according to a study by a team of Turkish archaeologists from Ankara University. Antiquity magazine.

It is true that earring-like objects have already been found at Neolithic sites in Southwest Asia, but no direct evidence of objects used for piercing has ever been found.

More than 100 objects discovered in the Bonkuklu Tarla necropolis were placed mainly around the ears and chins of those buried there, further evidence of the purpose for which they were used. Of these, 85 were fashioned from limestone, obsidian, or river rock, and analysis of the skulls (such as wear marks left on the lower jaw or incisors) showed that they were used as piercings for both ears and especially the lower lip.

Interestingly, only adult skeletons, both female and male, had such markings. No young skeletons associated with such objects were found. Hence the conclusion that piercing was not only an aesthetic act, but also the beginning of maturity.

The discovery in Turkey is the first of its kind, the study authors say, and they say it shows that prehistoric practices are still part of our modern traditions. However, their origins may be much older, as the people who inhabited Western Asia more than 10,000 years ago brought such customs from elsewhere.

Turkish archaeologists believe that these types of personal adornments can indicate belonging to a certain group, and in this way different human communities demonstrate their identity.

The state of the Antarctic ice sheet is becoming alarming

The level of ice in Antarctica remains at a normal level for the third year in a row, experts consider this situation alarming. However, they admit that they cannot say whether the pattern is dictated by global warming or is an extremely rare natural fluctuation.

Moreover, the regularity of the evolution of the ice at the South Pole began to be beyond explanation for almost ten years. In fact, statistical models no longer work, say experts from the University of Tasmania, Australia, quoted by New Scientist.

Thus, despite predictions, 2024 brought a significant decrease in ice extent to only 1.99 million square kilometers, the second negative record on record. And the model of ice melting entered the third year in a row.

Climate scientists are most worried about the fact that the entire Antarctic ice sheet could enter an irreversible process. And this would have devastating consequences not only for local ecosystems, but also for the climate of the entire planet.

One source of uncertainty is the short history of official records. Practically only in 1979 did satellite observation of the South Pole cap begin. A likely scenario would be that the current pattern is both a consequence of the normal cycle and exacerbated by rising global temperatures.

Experts say that they will get a clear answer in a few months, when the southern winter comes. And if the ice level remains low, the situation may become critical not only for the southern continent, but also for the climate of the entire planet.

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